Verdict . News

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 9, 2026•4 min read

7th Circuit Affirms Milwaukee Drug Trafficking Conviction

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of Michael J. Yumang on drug trafficking and firearms charges following searches that uncovered distribution quantities of methamphetamine. The appeals court rejected Yumang's challenge to testimony from a government drug analyst.

•Seventh Circuit affirmed conviction of Michael Yumang on drug trafficking and firearms charges

•Searches uncovered distribution quantities of methamphetamine and weapons in Milwaukee area

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Denies Compassionate Release for Life-Term Federal Inmate

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has denied William Baskerville's appeal seeking compassionate release from federal prison under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). The non-precedential decision, filed January 8, 2026, upheld a lower court's denial of Baskerville's motion for sentence reduction in a case dating back to 2003.

•Third Circuit affirmed denial of compassionate release motion under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i)

•Baskerville was sentenced to nine concurrent life terms for witness intimidation and drug trafficking

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds 24-Year Sentence in Major Drug Conspiracy Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and 24-year prison sentence of Christopher Texidor, who led a drug trafficking organization that moved nearly 3,000 kilograms of marijuana from California to Pennsylvania. The court rejected all of Texidor's sentencing challenges in a decision issued Jan. 8.

•Christopher Texidor received 292 months for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, plus 240 months concurrent for wire fraud

•Third Circuit rejected all appeals challenging leadership enhancement and sentence length

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Affirms Money Laundering Conviction in Cross-Border Drug Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentencing calculation for Liza Garcia, who pleaded guilty to drug-related money laundering charges in connection with a cross-border narcotics smuggling operation. The court rejected Garcia's challenge to the district court's base offense level calculation in a per curiam decision filed January 8, 2026.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed Garcia's money laundering conviction and sentencing calculation

•Garcia recruited David Apaseo to transport narcotics from Mexico to the United States

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms 262-Month Sentence for Career Offender

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a 262-month prison sentence for Quintell Dewayne Gladney, who was convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and sentenced as a career offender under federal guidelines.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed 262-month sentence for career offender convicted of firearm possession

•Defendant challenged district court's reliance on presentence report to characterize prior Louisiana drug convictions

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds Drug Convictions for Georgia Defendants

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed drug convictions against Kenneth Pertillo and Johnifer Barnwell, rejecting their challenges to evidence admission in a federal prosecution stemming from a heroin-dealing investigation in Macon, Georgia.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed six drug-related convictions for Kenneth Pertillo and Johnifer Barnwell

•Court rejected challenges to admission of prior drug sale evidence and personal notebooks

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

6th Circuit Reviews Drug Distribution Case with Search Warrant Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion in United States v. Michael Warren Smith, Jr., involving a defendant who pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine after police executed search warrants at two properties. The case centers on challenges to the validity of the search warrants used in the investigation.

•Smith pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine after police searches

•Law enforcement conducted months-long investigation using confidential informants, surveillance, GPS tracking, and phone records

•De Leon distributed over 20 kilograms of fentanyl, a quantity that could result in thousands of fatal overdoses

Legal News

Jan 6, 2026•4 min read

Dominican National Gets 5 Years for Distributing 20+ Kilograms of Fentanyl

Alexis De Leon, a 30-year-old Dominican national, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in distributing over 20 kilograms of fentanyl throughout Maine. The significant sentencing reflects federal authorities' continued crackdown on large-scale fentanyl trafficking operations.

•The five-year federal sentence demonstrates prosecutors' focus on major drug trafficking operations

•Nine South Bay men indicted for racketeering conspiracy as SAP Norteños gang members

Legal News

Jan 6, 2026•4 min read

Nine Salinas Gang Members Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

A federal grand jury has indicted nine South Bay men for racketeering conspiracy as members of the Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños street gang. The charges include 11 murders, 14 attempted murders, and extensive drug and weapons trafficking operations.

•Charges include 11 murders and 14 attempted murders linked to gang activities